About Cape Otway Lightstation
Cape Otway Lightstation is mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse, located on Cape Otway at the southern edge of the Great Otway National Park in Victoria. Built in 1848 from local sandstone, it stands on cliffs where Bass Strait meets the Southern Ocean along the Great Ocean Road. It guided ships through the treacherous strait until decommissioned in 1994 and now operates as a heritage tourism precinct with museum, keeper's quarters and working light.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore the 1848 sandstone lighthouse tower with 360-degree coastal views, the former lightkeeper's cottages, telegraph station and museum displays on maritime history. The precinct sits on exposed coastal cliffs with heathland and ocean outlooks, a cafe, gift shop and walking paths. Guided tours explain lighthouse operation, and accommodation is available in heritage cottages. The site is exposed to wind and weather.
Key highlights
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Mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse built in 1848
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Climb to the lantern room for panoramic views of Bass Strait and Southern Ocean
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Original lightkeeper's cottages, telegraph station and maritime museum
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Located on dramatic cliffs within Great Otway National Park on the Great Ocean Road
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Aboriginal cultural heritage interpretation of Gadubanud Country
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On-site cafe, heritage accommodation and coastal walking tracks
History of Cape Otway Lightstation
Constructed in 1848, Cape Otway Lightstation is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. Built from sandstone quarried on site, it was erected to guide ships entering Bass Strait, a notoriously dangerous shipping route. The light was first lit in August 1848 using a first-order Fresnel lens. A telegraph station was added in 1859. The lighthouse operated continuously until 1994 when it was replaced by a low-powered solar light nearby, and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Culture & Context
The lightstation is a significant maritime heritage site illustrating 19th-century coastal navigation and settlement along Victoria's southwest coast. It is located on Gadubanud Country of the Eastern Maar peoples, with interpretation of Aboriginal heritage. The precinct preserves lightkeeping lifestyle and is an iconic stop on the Great Ocean Road cultural landscape.